Nelson University

What Nelson University does

Nelson University is a private Christian university located in Waxahachie, Texas, founded in 1927 and rebranded in 2024 from Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU). It serves approximately 2,000 students across six colleges offering more than 70 majors and degree pathways ranging from associate to doctoral level, with a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The institution carries multiple programmatic and institutional accreditations, including SACSCOC regional accreditation, Level V recognition for its doctoral programs (achieved in 2015), CACREP for counseling, CSWE for social work, IACBE for business, and TEA for teacher certification. Its Pentecostal/Assemblies of God heritage is a defining feature of its brand and recruitment channel.

The institution's core product is degree-bearing education delivered on campus in Waxahachie, online, and through partner sites at affiliated Bible colleges (including Northpoint and a 2026 partnership with Catalyst Bible College). It has expanded its offering with an early college credit program that allows high school students to earn college credit, and it has deployed "Judah," an AI chatbot, for prospective-student engagement. Underlying technology is conventional learning management plus a consumer-grade conversational AI layer rather than a proprietary platform.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition (on-campus cost of attendance near $46,408 with online tuition discounted more than 20%), room and board, and philanthropic donations, including a stated $5M fundraising goal ahead of its 2027 centennial. The go-to-market model is B2C with student recruitment heavily channeled through the Assemblies of God church network and formal Bible-college partnerships. Customer segments span traditional residential undergraduates, online learners, ministerial candidates, and now dual-enrollment high school students.

Name

Nelson University

Legal name

Nelson University

Website

https://nelson.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Nelson University is a private Christian university in Waxahachie, Texas, serving 2,000+ students across six colleges with 70+ majors from associate to doctoral level. It generates revenue through tuition, housing, and donations, recruiting primarily via the Assemblies of God church network and Bible-college partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG)

Keywords

• Christian higher education
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate theological education
• Online degree programs
• Ministry and Bible college

Headquarters

HQ city

Waxahachie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from tuition charges for undergraduate and graduate programs. On-campus tuition approximately $26,628 per year. Online programs offered at reduced rates with 20% tuition reduction implemented. Graduate programs charged per credit hour or semester.
2. Room and Board: Food and housing services for on-campus students. Food and housing budget for on-campus students estimated at $10,574 per year.
3. Donations and Charitable Giving: Advancement office raises funds through annual giving, the $2027 by 2027 initiative (goal of $5 million), endowed scholarships, and planned giving programs. The Nelson Foundation manages trusts and estate planning services.
4. Financial Aid Administration: University administers federal financial aid including grants, loans, and work-study programs. Federal school code: 003616.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Nelson University is a private Christian university offering degree programs from associate to doctoral levels across multiple colleges, including Bible and Church Ministries, Behavioral Sciences, Business, Health Sciences, Music and Communication Arts, and Education and Integrative Studies. Programs are delivered on-campus in Waxahachie, Texas, fully online with accelerated 7-week sessions, and through partner school locations. The university integrates Pentecostal faith with academic instruction under an Assemblies of God heritage.

Product overview

Nelson University is a Christian higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic programs through multiple colleges. The university provides a unified educational platform combining on-campus residential learning in Waxahachie, Texas with flexible online degree options. The institution operates six distinct academic colleges: Southwestern College of Bible and Church Ministries (Bible, theology, church ministries, intercultural studies), College of Behavioral Sciences and Community Services (psychology, counseling, criminal justice, social work), College of Business (business administration, accounting, healthcare, sports management), College of Health Sciences (kinesiology, exercise science, athletic training), College of Music and Communication Arts (music, theatre, digital media, worship leadership), and College of Education and Integrative Studies (teacher education, interdisciplinary studies, history, English). Additionally, Nelson Graduate School offers advanced degrees including Master of Divinity, Master of Arts programs, and Doctor of Ministry. The institution also provides an Early College Credit program for high school students and an AI chatbot named Judah for prospective student inquiries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Southwestern College of Bible and Church Ministries: One of the core colleges offering Bible, theology, practical ministries, and missions degrees.
• Nelson Graduate School
• College of Behavioral Sciences and Community Services
• College of Business
• College of Health Sciences
• College of Music and Communication Arts
• College of Education and Integrative Studies

Products and services

• Nelson University On-Campus Degree Programs Residential undergraduate and graduate degree programs at the Waxahachie, Texas main campus, with on-campus tuition approximately $26,628 per year and total cost of attendance around $46,408 including room and board. Designed for traditional college-aged students and graduate learners seeking a residential campus experience.
• Nelson University Online Degree Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 20 nationally for social mobility (U.S. News & World Report)
• +6 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Catalyst Bible CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 March 2026Nelson University and Visalia First continue partnership through Catalyst Bible College, allowing students at partner locations to pursue biblical education with seamless transition to Nelson University degrees.
• Northpoint Bible CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned memorandum of understanding between Nelson University and Northpoint Bible College providing automatic transition pathway for students pursuing ministry leadership. Partnership assists next generation of leaders in gaining academic background with easier route to achieving their goals.
• Oaks ChurchcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNelson at Oaks Church provides on-campus education opportunities at Oaks College location, expanding access to Nelson University programs through church-based educational settings.
• Nelson American Indian College (AIC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmerican Indian College (AIC) in Phoenix, AZ is a partner site offering Nelson University programs on-campus. Provides theological education for Native American and other students.
• Various Schools of MinistryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership programs with multiple schools of ministry around the country allow students to enroll at partner locations with automatic transition pathways toward Nelson University degrees.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Liberty University: Largest private Christian university in the U.S. with massive online enrollment. Sets the competitive ceiling for online Christian education in which Nelson participates.

Direct peers

• Biola University: Private Christian university in Southern California with comparable theological core, multiple colleges, and graduate programs including ministry and counseling.
• LeTourneau University: East Texas private Christian university with similar size, faith integration, residential undergraduate model, and online graduate offerings.
• Regent University: Christian university in Virginia Beach with strong online graduate programs and faith-based curriculum. Comparable in its emphasis on graduate ministry, education, and business degrees delivered online.
• Houston Christian University: Texas-based Baptist-affiliated university offering similar blend of residential, online, and graduate programs with Christian worldview integration.
• Point Loma Nazarene University: Religiously affiliated liberal arts university with comparable size, denominational identity, multiple colleges, and faith-integrated curriculum.
• Oral Roberts University: Private Pentecostal/charismatic Christian university in Tulsa, OK with comparable theological heritage, online and residential programs, and Assemblies-of-God-adjacent identity. Most direct peer given denominational alignment.
• Dallas Baptist University: Regional Christian university in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex competing in the same Texas geography with similar mix of traditional and online programs and faith-based curriculum.
• Mid-America Christian University: Oklahoma-based Pentecostal/charismatic university with similar Assemblies of God heritage, online ministry degrees, and comparable small-institution profile.

Regional players

• Assemblies of God Theological Seminary: Graduate-level seminary within the AG fellowship; while not a direct competitor at the undergraduate level, it competes for the same graduate ministry-student pool Nelson serves through its Graduate School.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NelsonUniversityChapel
• Facebookfacebook.com/nelsonuedu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nelson-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/nelsonuniversity

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nelson University